Im having to push pretty hard to get the brakes to grab. Looks like it has new mintex pads, can tell if they are brand new or have been bedded in yet, but i would still think they should grab harder than that.
The pedal only moves about 1/5 compared to what the clutch moves.
could the booster be bad?

 

Movement is fine, can you lock them up?

 

havent really tried, but comming to a stop I have to put a fair amount of pressure on them, not feeling much modulation

 

have you bled the brakes?

 

make sure the big tee didn't pop off of the vacuum line. sounds like you have no vacuum assist. start simple then move slowly to complicated and expensive.

 

Always good advice

 

I had bad brake performance from 2 different 944's that had been sitting in storage for over a year each. Long stops and intermittent pulling to the left of right on hard stops on slick surfaces. On both of them I had to take the brake calipers loose and get the slides of the calipers cleaned and lubed up so they would work properly. On the first car I drove it for 4 months with no brake improvement before I cleaned up the calipers. After the cleanup they both stop very well.

 

im having the same thing on my 944. weak feel. I have tried to lock the brakes up on a coupler of occasions, but its real hard...

 

yeah i tried to lock it up the other day, and it didnt, stopped soon enough, but again needed heavy pedal pressure

 

yup. I havent really tried to lock them up but I have done a few practice "panic stops" and it made me feel like if it really came down to it, I might not be able to stop in time. On the other hand, my Honda's brakes grab like a champ! Same with the RX7. The Mazda's brakes aren't as "grabby" as the Honda's, but they are VERY easy to modulate. Almost like a "you get out what you put in" type of feel. Easy to lock, if needed, but not "too easy" ya know? I think the issue on the 944 might be a couple of small things adding up to a bigger problem. The rotors are warped, as it pulsates when slowing down. Also, the pads could be glazed over, and the brake fluid looks old. I have a set of stainless braided lines I'm going to install when I care enough. That should help the situation. I'll change the rotors, pads, fluid and lines all at the same time and see what I come up with.

 

my $.02- check that your vacuum booster is working, check that your rotors are not glazed. Change the pads and bleed. your brakes should lock up the fronts with normal leg pressure.